Tour de France 2018 winner has bike stolen at cafe in south of France
Welshman Geraint Thomas’s bike was later found by local police who spotted a man on an expensive bike but ill at ease riding it
The Tour de France 2018 winner was out riding in Menton, south of France, when his bike was stolen
Thomas Quack / Shutterstock
Geraint Thomas, British winner of the Tour de France 2018, had his bike stolen while on a ride in Menton in the south of France when he stopped for a coffee at a cafe. The bike was taken from outside.
He posted a photo of himself riding home in an Uber. He said the bike was a Dogma F [Pinarello] model with F12 stickers, “random mismatched wheels”, and was “in need of a wash”.
The bike was later found by local police whose suspicions were raised when they saw a man on an expensive bike but not very at ease at riding it.
Mr Thomas later posted his thanks with a photo of the officers and the recovered bike.
Originally from Wales, Mr Thomas, 35, lives in Monaco during most of the year.
Negotiating his last few years
It is the latest minor mishap for Mr Thomas, who has suffered several crashes and injuries in recent years, which have stopped him from competing in multiple Grand Tour events.
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The double Olympic gold medallist has also recently spoken publicly of his difficult negotiations with his long-time cycling team, Ineos Grenadiers.
He has now agreed to another two-year contract at the team, with its owner Dave Brailsford. Given his age, these two years could be his last.
He won the Tour de France with the team and has represented Ineos since its inception in 2010.
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Speaking about the negotiations, he told BBC Sport Wales: "It's hard. I've had to separate the emotional and the business side of things.
“It's been the worst one [contract] to redo because there's been a lot going on, but I'm happy that it's finally almost done. Once it's announced, we can move on and I can concentrate on getting fit and riding my bike.
"In two or three years, I'll be done, which is a weird thought, so I really want to enjoy my last few years of racing...The closer you get to stopping, the more it [retirement] is in the back of your mind.”
Mr Thomas has now launched a charitable trust and has said that post-retirement he will likely move back home to Wales and work to make cycling more accessible to young people.
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